The Design and Technology Team at Henry’s (Mr Sweetman, Mr Rendle, Mr Phillips and Mr Timson) have been doing their bit for the Coronavirus Crisis through the manufacture of PPE for healthcare workers, care homes and medical professionals who are on the front line in hospitals, GP surgeries and hospices across the West Midlands.

The team have now completed production of 11,207  visors, which have been gratefully received by more than 275 different groups, amongst which include…

University Hospital Coventry and Warks	George Elliot Hospital	Warwick ICU and A&E	Myton Hospice
Caludon Centre UHCW	Dudley Occupational Therapy	Willenhall Medical Centre	Solihull Hospital
Arden Radiotherapy	MacMillan Cancer Team	Air Ambulance	Copsewood Medical Centre
Harbury Medical Centre and Pharmacy	Stratford Bentley Care Home	C&W Mental Health	Glenfield Hospital
Walsall Cardiology Department	John Taylor Hospice	Sutton Coalfield Hospital	The Elms Care Home

The responses from the different groups and medical teams to the support we’ve provided has been both humbling and kind, with grateful messages alongside gifts of chocolates, biscuits and even an Indian takeaway!

“Just wanted to thank your school for the visors they are so appreciated and decrease the viral load massively and protect us all.”

St Bernard’s Care Home, Solihull

“Massive thanks to King Henry VIII School in Coventry for making and supplying us with 120 visors, working all through the Bank Holiday to get them finished. They will definitely come in handy over the next few weeks!”

Heart of England Mencap

“This morning we were delighted to receive a kind gift of protective visors from the school. Looking good, comfortable to wear and most importantly offering us the vital protection that we need right now. Many many thanks from all the team in theatres.”

Good Hope Hospital, Birmingham

The visor production is a two pronged approach, with 3d printers churning out one model of visor while the laser cutter is producing the second design. There were two laser cutters working on the visors but unfortunately the older laser couldn’t keep up and packed in! Fortunately, the good people at Gravograph in Leamington were kind enough to lend one of theirs to keep production levels up.

All this has been made possible by the generosity of parents and the wider community who donated money for materials. The teams have also been supported by Coventry Building Society and Ricoh with Telent helping to source and donate materials through Antalis to keep the production going.

The BBC have also raised the profile of the operation and helped to spread the word on the availability of the PPE through a profile on local radio and an article on their website. Whilst you may also have seen Mr Sweetman appear on ITV’s Central News too.

The final push was supported by other members of the teaching staff at Henry’s helping to take production over 10,000 and make those final deliveries.

Well done to the DT team – We are exceptionally proud of your amazing achievement! #KHVIIISpark